Suggestions please! My adult son hardly sleeps at night at all.

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April
April Online Community Member Posts: 110 Empowering
edited December 2020 in Cerebral Palsy Network
I hope someone can help me. I am so tired through lack of sleep.

My adult son with cerebral palsy wakes about 2 or 3 times in the night wanting to use the urine bottle. I've tried everything...giving him some non-addictive pills from the doctor before he goes to sleep, making sure he restricts any late evening drinks, changing the timing of his drugs (for spasms) to see if that makes him more sleepy. 
He sleeps in his wheelchair during the day rather than sleeping at night. 

I am exhausted. Last night I had about 4 hours sleep. His bedroom is downstairs, so I have to go up and down the stairs throughout the night.
I'm very irritable during the day and I just don't know what to try next.

Has anyone else had this problem? 

Comments

  • Cher_Alumni
    Cher_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,714 Championing
    edited December 2020
    Hi @April

    That sounds exhausting.  Are you coping okay?  It certainly would help if your son could stop sleeping in the day-time, has he ever tried adjusting his sleep pattern?

    I'm going to tag in our wonderous @Richard_Scope who is the CP information specialist so he can offer some support.  And in the meantime, you can read some of Scope's 'Sleep tips for adults' to see if there is anything you can implement quickly that could make a difference.  

    Best wishes and I hope you get a restful night soon.
  • April
    April Online Community Member Posts: 110 Empowering
    @woodbine. Thanks for your reply. It made me smile  :) Yes, you're right we need to keep him awake in the daytime somehow. Not sure how to do that yet though  :/
  • April
    April Online Community Member Posts: 110 Empowering
    @Cher_Scope Thank you for your help. I appreciate that. 
  • Richard_Scope
    Richard_Scope Posts: 3,780 Cerebral Palsy Network
    Hi @April
    It must be exhausting for all of you! It sounds like your son's circadian rhythm is out of sink. People who work night shifts for a certain period and then are switched back to day shift experience this too.
    It sounds as if you are addressing the main issues. No caffeine after 6 pm, No liquids after 7 pm and cut the use of devices such as Ipads etc before bed. It is also important for your son not to sleep during the day. This has to be phased out. 
    Here are some more tips
    Sleep Tips from MIND

  • April
    April Online Community Member Posts: 110 Empowering
    @Richard_Scope. Thank you so much!